Many types of emergencies can happen that can cause a loss of water at your home. Being prepared can help you in any event. An adult requires at least a ½ gallon of water per day for drinking, and more during warmer weather and vigorous activity. Please remember that you may need another 1/2 – 1 gallon of water per adult for cooking, bathing, brushing your teeth and washing your dishes. To be safe, you should store at least a three-day supply for each family member.

There are many ways to purify water and no one way is absolute. You can boil it, disinfect it and use the distillation method. The first two methods will destroy microbes in water, while distillation will actually remove microbes.

Boiling

To purify water by boiling it, bring water to a vigorous boil for at least five minutes. You may notice a loss of water, as it will evaporate when it boils. Let the water cool before drinking.

Disinfecting

Another method of purifying is disinfection. For this method, you can use plain household liquid bleach. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water. Stir water and wait at least thirty minutes. Be sure the liquid bleach is fresh and contains 4-6% sodium hypochlorite.

Distilling

The third method is distillation. This method involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. This vapor will not contain salt or other impurities. Fill a pot halfway with water and tie a cup to the handle of the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right side up when the lid is upside down. Make sure the cup does not touch the water and boil the water for at least twenty minutes. The water that is collected in the cup is distilled.

Storage

All water that is purchased or purified by one of the above methods can be safely stored in a cool, dark place for up to one year. Determine which container works best for your needs.

Clean glass containers can be used but may shatter during earthquakes or rough handling. Freezing weather will expand water and crack glass containers.

Metal containers should not be used if the water has been treated with bleach since chlorine is corrosive to metal.

“Food grade” plastic containers should be stored away from gasoline, chemicals, or vapors because they can leach through plastic.

Mark the bottles with the current date and make sure to rotate them every year.

Other water sources

There are other sources of water around your home that you may use in an emergency. Ice cubes from your freezer, toilet tank water (not the bowl) and even your hot water heater.

Sources: EPA Safe Water Hotline, Utah University, and The Family Emergency Preparedness Plan from Group Health.

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